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United Kingdom

Energy White Paper

legislation type Executive
Passed in 2020
In December 2020 the UK Secretary for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy issued an Energy White Paper entitled "Powering our Net Zero Future". The aim of the White Paper is to transform energy, support a green recovery from the COVID19 crisis and create a fair deal for consumers. The government estimates that the measures set out in the White Paper could reduce emissions across power, industry and buildings by up to 230MtCO2e in the period to 2032, as well as creating thousands of jobs.

Among the measures proposed, the paper includes further detail on previous policies regarding a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, financial support for an extra 40 gigawatts (40GW) of new offshore wind, and £3bn in funding for home energy improvements. The paper also envisages experimentation with a number of other mechanisms to keep energy affordable for consumers.

One of the key elements of the paper is the provision of details on the establishment of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, which will include a cap on emissions that is 5% lower than under the previous EU Emissions Trading Scheme and will be lowered further over time to ensure a net zero trajectory. 

The paper also sets out Government plans for nuclear energy, including the intention to create a commercially viable nuclear fusion plant by 2040. Additional funding is also intended to be made available for the development of new carbon capture and storage technologies.


Documents

  • The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end from 2030.
    Transport | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, the CCUS will aim to capture 10Mt of carbon dioxide a year.
    Environment | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, require all rented non-domestic buildings to be Band B on Energy Performance
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2026, from 2022 extend the energy company obligation and warm discount to ¬£475M a year.
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2022
  • By 2025, a Hydrogen Neighbourhood village will be trialing.
    Energy | Target year: 2025 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, 40,000 new jobs for zero-emissions vehicles and new CCSU technology.
    Economy-wide | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, 250,000 new green jobs as set out in the ten point plan.
    Economy-wide | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, 40Gw in offshore wind to generate 60,000 jobs in the UK.
    Economy-wide | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, 250,000 new green jobs.
    Economy-wide | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • BY 2027, raise total R+D investment to 2.4% of GDP.
    Economy-wide | Target year: 2027 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2032, reduce up to 230Mt Co2 across power, buildings and industry and create jobs 220,000 jobs.
    Environment | Target year: 2032 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2028, electric heat pumps to be installed from 30,000 a year to 600,000 a year.
    Energy | Target year: 2028 | Base year: 2020
  • From 2020, over six years, to offer ¬£6.7Bn to the vulnerable and energy poor.
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2020
  • Between 2022-2026, ¬£4.7Bn for low-income households to support energy bills.
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2022
  • Between 2022-2026, ¬£500M of the ¬£1.5Bn voucher scheme for low income households
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2022
  • End all coal in electricity mix by 2025
    Energy | Target year: 2025 | Base year: 2022
  • By 2030, support up to 250,000 green jobs as part of the Ten Point Plan.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, offshore wind capacity is planned to quadruple and bring new jobs to ports and coastal areas.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, UK to aim for 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity and pioneer hydrogen heating trials.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, end sale of new petro and diesel cars and vans and provide ¬£2.8Bn package of measures to support industry and consumers.
    Transport | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, capture 10MT of Co2 and invest up to ¬£1Bn to support the establishment of CCUS in four industrial clusters.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2027, commitment to raise total R+D investment to 2.4% of GDP.
    Finance | Target year: 2027 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2032, industry and buildings to reduce emissions by up to 230MtCo2.
    Energy | Target year: 2032 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, offshore wind to reach 40GW including 1GW floating wind.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, the government will facilitate the deployment of CCUS in four clusters.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2028, grow the installation of electric heat pumps from 30,000 a year to 600,000 a year.
    Energy | Target year: 2028 | Base year: 2020
  • The UK aims for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2025, end coal in electricity mix.
    Energy | Target year: 2025 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, 40Gw in offshore wind and 1GW in floating wind, alongside low-cost renewable technologies.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By early 2030s, provide ¬£385M in Advanced Nuclear Fund for the next generation of nuclear technology to develop SMR design and build an AMR demonstrator.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2040, aim to build a commercially viable fusion power plant.
    Energy | Target year: 2040 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2022, establish the role which BECCS plays in reducing carbon emissions across the economy.
    Energy | Target year: 2022 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, support the delivery of the sector's target of 60% UK content in offshore wind projects.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • ¬£160M scheme launched a competitive process to support the development of offshore wind manufacturing infrastructure.
    Energy | Base year: 2020
  • The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end from 2030 and hybrids by 2035.
    Transport | Target year: 2035 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2028, ¬£50M to support delivery of upgrading homes to meet EPC band C.
    Energy | Target year: 2028 | Base year: 2020
  • BY 2030, all rented non-domestic buildings will be EPC Band B
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2032, ¬£1Bn of funding to cut emissions by 1.3Mt Co2e.
    Transport | Target year: 2032 | Base year: 2020
  • From 2022-2026, Energy Company Obligation to support fuel poor consumers with up to ¬£300 on their energy bills.
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2022
  • From 2022, the Warm Home Discount to be extended to 2025/26 to expand total spending from ¬£350M to ¬£475M a year.
    Energy | Target year: 2026 | Base year: 2022
  • By 2025, fuel poor households to achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band D.
    Energy | Target year: 2025 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, triple the amount of biomethane in the grid under the Green Gas SUpport Scheme.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2021
  • By 2025, commit ¬£122M funding to a new Heat Network Transformation Programme.
    Energy | Target year: 2025 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2050, transform the UK Continental Shelf to be a net zero basin.
    Energy | Target year: 2050 | Base year: 2020
  • By 2030, commit the UK to the World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.
    Energy | Target year: 2030 | Base year: 2020
from the Grantham Research Institute
from the Grantham Research Institute
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